Truu's electrical help thread.

Howdy folks.

This thread will be dedicated to any of your electrical needs. Whether it be a question about your growing setup, or if you just need help around the house. I have many years of electrical experience in residential, commercial, and industrial fields.

Just ask your question as detailed as possible, throw in some pics if needed. The more info I can get, the better I can understand what you need. It is also a good idea to let me know if you are from over seas, for I am not lol.

 

[krum]

no man its cool. I'll give it another shot real soon.

 

[stormrider]

Hi guys, Im setting up my grow box and I came across a few doubts regarding the proper electrical installation. Id like to ask suggestions to help me choose the best setup:
The growbox is located outside, in the balcony of my appartment. The 220v power outlet is located about 4 metres from the growbox.

1st Option:
To Connect the timer to the 220v power outlet and a 2500W Home/Office, 3 plug Surge Protector connected to the timer.
From this surge protector, one 2,5mm width, 4,5m long extension cord feeds my 250W HPS ballast and another, a thinner extension cord, with 1,5mm width, same lengh, feeds the cooltube's cooler.
Pros: The electricity is divided into 2 extension cords from the power source to its feeded system.
Bads: The surge protector is left outside in the weather, also comprimising the grow's stealth to careful eyes.

2nd Option: Is to connect the timer to the 220v power outlet as before but, connected to it is the 2,5mm extension cord that is connected, inside the growbox with the surge protector, through male/female 10A plugs. Connected in this surge protector are, like before, the HPS ballast and the Cooltube's cooler.
Pros: More Steatlh and weather protection to sensible electrical parts
Bads: I dont know much about electricity but I'm afraid that the power demand from the 250W HPS system plus its cooltube cooler might exceed the 2,5mm width, 4,5m long extension cord capacity.

What do you guys suggest?

View attachment 113419

 

[stormrider]

One more question. There was a sticker glued to this power outlet that read 220v. But one I test it using a digital voltage testing pen, it read 110v in both holes.

 

[Truu]

Hello storm. Im guessing that you are from over seas because you have me measurements in metric. First of all you don't have to worry about over loading any of your circuits. And second you will not be able to use a power strip with 220v. The reason you are reading 120v in each prong is because you are reading each phase to ground. Meaning you have 1 leg of 120v and another leg of 120v. But combined together they produce 240v. This plug you are reading is for equipment that uses 220v. Such as an a/c unit.

You can easily use your power strip plugged into a 120v receptacle. Your light will only be pulling 2.3 amps. And anything else you use won't be using anymore than that. Just make sure you aren't on the same circuit as any appliance that doesn't pull a big load and you will be fine.

 

[stormrider]

Hello storm. Im guessing that you are from over seas because you have me measurements in metric. First of all you don't have to worry about over loading any of your circuits. And second you will not be able to use a power strip with 220v. The reason you are reading 120v in each prong is because you are reading each phase to ground. Meaning you have 1 leg of 120v and another leg of 120v. But combined together they produce 240v. This plug you are reading is for equipment that uses 220v. Such as an a/c unit.

You can easily use your power strip plugged into a 120v receptacle. Your light will only be pulling 2.3 amps. And anything else you use won't be using anymore than that. Just make sure you aren't on the same circuit as any appliance that doesn't pull a big load and you will be fine.

Thanks for the quick reply Truu, that was very helpful. This power outlet mention earlier is an extension to the one that feeds the A/C. But I don't intend on growing during the summer anyways, when A/C use is definetly a must in a tropical environment.

 

[Truu]

Hello jack. Wow those are some off the wall colors they've given you aren't they? Lol. Im going to guess and say that this equipment is from overseas as well. My first question is, wich wires come from the ballast and wich come from the socket? My guess is black and white come from socket. Now you have a spare green, and just by going on the information you've given me I cannot see a reason why they would give you a ground. Usually the ground in lighting is used to ground the fixture itself, not the light. So I would suggest, that is if you even feel like doin this, take your green and just attach it to any metal part of your fixture (if it even has metal parts). I honestly wouldn't worry about grounding it if it's in a plastic box.

If you want to send me some other pictures of your set up with the incoming power cord to your light and the light fixture itself, I may be able to come up with a better solution.

 

[Truu]

Yes jack its completely safe. I've wired a few car dealerships and I've done so many parking lot lights with 1000w MH, I bet I've done close to 1000 lights just in parking lots. But anyways, the mogul socket is never grounded, only the fixture itself, wich of course we pull a ground to from the point of service. I've seen bulbs explode, sockets go bad, wiring on sockets short out to the fixture, anything that could possibly go wrong and I've seen it and fixed it. You've got nothing to worry about.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Hi Truu,

I wonder if you could help me please with a small issue!......I have an 80mm A/C 220-240v computer-style fan that I got on the internet. It has two wires coming from it and both are black and appear the same. Is it ok to wire this directly into a normal household plug? If so, how will I be able to tell which wire is which? For instance, if I wire the wrong way round, will the fan go backwards or blow up and kill me?? I am in the UK by the way!

Thanks!

 

[Truu]

Hello chunky. I have no experience with 220v computer fans. However it will work as long as you are plugging it into a 220v outlet. You would need to purchase a male cord cap so you can plug the fan into the socket. The wiring wouldn't be hard. Both the blacks are hots so there shouldn't be any special order, however if the fan is spinning backwards (I'd imagine you could just turn the fan around?) if not just change the 2 blacks around. If there's a ground just make sure you get the ground correct. You don't have anything to worry about. Just don't have any exposed connections and never work it while it live and you will be ok.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Hello chunky. I have no experience with 220v computer fans. However it will work as long as you are plugging it into a 220v outlet. You would need to purchase a male cord cap so you can plug the fan into the socket. The wiring wouldn't be hard. Both the blacks are hots so there's no special order. If there's a ground just make sure you get the ground correct.

Thanks for your help, very much appreciated Truu!